Update: Hampton jury finds man guilty of homicide

UPDATE: A jury found Shavis Holloman guilty Friday of felony homicide, attempted robbery, gang participation, conspiracy, malicious wounding and firearms charges. The jury deliberated for about an hour before returning its verdict.

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HAMPTON — Getting members of a local street gang to turn on one another was the key to making arrests in the homicide of Thomas Needam III, a detective testified Thursday.

"Everything fit like a puzzle, the only thing that didn't fit was who fired the gun," Hampton Police Detective John Baer testified.

Baer testified during the second day of a jury trial for Shavis Holloman. Holloman, 31, is charged with the Aug. 22, 2010, shooting death of Thomas Needam III. Needam, 40, was shot inside his home at Hampton Creek Apartments on East Pembroke Avenue. His twin boys were in a nearby room when he was gunned down.

Needam was gunned down in his apartment during a robbery attempt. He was a target because he sold marijuana out his apartment, according to police. Prosecution witnesses testified that after the attempt failed Holloman sent members of the gang Nine Trey Gangsters back up to Needam's apartment to try to complete the robbery, an order that resulted in Needam being fatally wounded.

Baer testified that Holloman's story about whether he was a part of the crime shifted. As time passed, Holloman's story became more consist with other alleged gang members who Baer interviewed. Baer said Holloman initially said he waited in the car while the others went back up to try to rob Needam the second time. The longer Baer interviewed Holloman, "he kept adding more details," he testified. Baer testified that Holloman admitted he got out of the car and was waiting at the bottom of the steps when the fatal shots were fired.

Defense attorney Nicholas Hobbs argued that Baer's tough interview style was used as a way to get the defendant and others to say what he wanted them to say. Hobbs also pointed out that Baer "bluffed" about some aspects of the crime during interviews.

"Didn't you tell them you can either go to prison or cooperate?" Hobbs asked Baer during cross examination.

"Which means, tell us the truth," Baer responded.

Prosecutors say that Holloman is responsible for Needam's death because as the leader of the gang he ordered others under him to return to the apartment to rob him. Holloman is not accused of being the shooter. While other gang members interviewed by Baer said Jamel Carney fired the fatal shots, Carney said Holloman did — it was the one detail that wasn't consistent, according to Baer. In 2012, a jury convicted Carney, 25, of first-degree murder and 13 other felonies for being the shooter in Needam's death.

Holloman's charges include felony homicide, attempted robbery, gang participation, conspiracy, maiming and firearms charges. Felony homicide is a form of second-degree murder for accidental deaths that occur in the course of another felony — in this case, attempted robbery. Holloman's maiming charge is in reference to a woman who was wounded after police say Holloman fired into a crowd of people in September 2010.

The defense is expected to present its case Friday, followed by closing arguments.